Chapter 6: A Calculated Risk 2
The aftermath of the attack left Crown Princess Elara shaken, but strangely, exhilarated. She had witnessed Crown Prince Kaelen's vulnerability, the raw, primal fear that flashed in his eyes as he protected her. It had shattered the image of the icy, emotionless Crown Prince she had created, revealing a man of fierce loyalty and unexpected depths.
Yet, a chilling realization dawned on her. This was fiction, a story she had written. Crown Prince Kaelen, despite his actions, was not the man she had envisioned for Elara. He was a ruler, a warrior, burdened by the weight of his responsibilities. Love, compassion, those were luxuries he couldn't afford.
Days turned into weeks. Crown Prince Kaelen, despite his injury, remained surprisingly attentive. He would send her flowers, inquire about her well-being, and even engage her in unexpected conversations about art and literature. Crown Princess Elara, torn between her growing affection for him and the knowledge that this was all a carefully constructed illusion, found herself drawn to him despite her better judgment.
Their relationship, however, remained strictly professional. Crown Prince Kaelen, though courteous, maintained a guarded distance. He was a king, and she was his Crown Princess, a political alliance bound by duty, not passion.
One afternoon, an invitation arrived from the Prime Minister, Valerius, inviting them to a formal dinner at his mansion. Prime minister Valerius, a man of considerable influence, had always been a thorn in Crown Princess Elara's side. He had openly favored his concubine, Lady Elara, and her daughter, Seraphina, neglecting Crown Princess Elara and her ailing mother, Lady Amelia.
The news of the invitation sent a shiver down Crown Princess Elara's spine. She dreaded the inevitable social maneuvering, the veiled insults, the icy glares from Lady Elara and Seraphina.
Before departing for the mansion, Crown Princess Elara visited her mother in her chambers. Lady Amelia, pale and frail, smiled weakly at her daughter. "You look beautiful, my dearest," she whispered, her voice raspy. "But be cautious, Elara. The Prime Minister's household… it is not a safe place for you."
Crown Princess Elara, her heart aching, promised her mother she would be careful.
As they arrived at the mansion, they were greeted by a flurry of activity. Prime minister Valerius, a portly man with a greasy smile, welcomed them with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Welcome, Your Highness," he boomed, bowing deeply. "It is an honor to have you grace our humble abode."
He then turned to Crown Princess Elara, his smile a bit too wide. "And our beautiful Crown Princess. You are even more radiant than the rumors suggest."
Crown Princess Elara, maintaining her composure, thanked him politely. Crown Prince Kaelen, however, remained aloof, acknowledging Lord Valerius with a curt nod.
Lord Valerius, seemingly oblivious to Crown Prince Kaelen's indifference, ushered them inside. Crown Prince Kaelen, to Crown Princess Elara's surprise, excused himself to speak with Prime minister Valerius in private.
Left alone with Lady Amira and Seraphina, Crown Princess Elara braced herself for the inevitable barrage of insults.
Lady Elara, her eyes gleaming with malice, sneered. "Such a pity your mother couldn't join us. I hear her coughing fits have become quite… frequent."
Crown Princess Elara, her anger rising, felt a surge of power. This was not the weak, submissive Elara of her own story. This was she, the writer, in control. "My mother's health is none of your concern, Lady Elara," she retorted, her voice icy.
Seraphina, giggling, chimed in, "Oh please, Elara. We all know your mother is a burden, a constant drain on your father's resources."
Crown Princess Elara's patience snapped. She rose to her feet, her eyes blazing. "Enough!" she thundered, her voice echoing through the room. "You will not speak ill of my mother!"
Before anyone could react, Crown Princess Elara slapped Seraphina across the face. The room fell into stunned silence.
Lady Amira, furious, shrieked, "How dare you! You insolent girl!"
Crown Princess Elara, her anger still simmering, turned to face her stepmother. "I will not tolerate your disrespect," she declared, her voice unwavering. "And neither will the Crown Prince."
Just then, the doors to the adjoining room burst open. Crown Prince Kaelen stood in the doorway, his face a mask of thunder. He had overheard every word.
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Crown Prince Kaelen, his eyes scanning the room, finally landed on his wife. He had expected to find her cowering, intimidated by the venomous words of his enemies. Instead, he saw a woman of fire, her eyes blazing with a fierce, protective anger.
He then turned his attention to Lady Elara and Seraphina, his gaze cold and unforgiving. "Who gave you permission to speak ill of my wife and her mother?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
One of the servants, emboldened by the general air of chaos, piped up, "But Your Highness, everyone knows the Crown Prince himself is… monstrous. Deformed."
Crown Prince Kaelen's eyes narrowed. "Is that so?" he said, his voice chillingly calm. "And who, pray tell, gave you the courage to speak such insolence in my presence?"
The servant, terrified, stammered, "But Your Highness, the rumors… everyone says…"
Crown Prince Kaelen cut him off with a chilling smile. "I find these 'rumors' highly entertaining," he said, his voice dripping with icy sarcasm. "Perhaps a demonstration is in order."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, then slowly reached up and began to unfasten the mask.
A collective gasp filled the room. Lady Elara and Seraphina, along with the other guests, stared in disbelief. The Crown Prince, the man they had whispered about in hushed tones, the man they had imagined as a monstrous beast, was slowly revealing his face.
As the mask slipped away, a hush fell over the room. Everyone held their breath, anticipation building.
Finally, the mask fell away, revealing a face that took their breath away. Crown Prince Kaelen was not monstrous; he was breathtakingly handsome. His features were sharp and chiselled, his eyes the color of a stormy sea, radiating an intensity that sent shivers down their spines.
Even Crown Princess Elara, the writer of this story, was taken aback. She had envisioned Crown Prince Kaelen as handsome, but the reality far surpassed her imagination.
He then turned to his personal guard, his voice low and deadly. "Remove his head."